Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1887-11-24

y
have no wish to know your name, and
certa ntly none to acquaint you with
mine"
And, scarcely giving him time to
descend from the buggy, Violet sprang
past him, Ignoring his proffered hand.
and ran toward the gate. Before she
Ind reached it, however, the words,
''My coat, If you please; excuse nv mem
tioning IT," checked her, and she was
obliged TO submit to the humiliation of
taking off the big rubber coat, and
returning it to him. She felt that
he was smiling. but she would not look
at him. As the young man received the
coat, he said, gravely,:
"Since you decline to read my name,
must tell it to you. Allow me to intro
duce myself as"
But the young lady had by this time
turned her back, and was walking rapidly
toward the house, and he paused alb
ruptly in the utterance of his name, per-
ceiving that she was already out of ear
shot He laughed to himself-a laugh
Of genuine amusement-and resumed his
seat in the buggy, seeming in no way dis
comfted by the treatment he had 70
eeived.
Miss Dennis, for her part, was thor
oughly mortified and indignant; but be-
ing sensible girl, she reflected that she
was going back to the city the next morn
ing, and need have no apprehensions for
the future, and so she said nothing oil
her adventure to any one.
Shortly after Miss Dcnnis's train had
left, next morning, the brown bearded
stranger called at Mrs. Harper's, and ac-
tually had the assurance to ask for Miss
Dennis, in the easiest way in the world,
and offer his card to be sent up to her
But he was informed by the servant that
Miss Dennis had returned to her home in
the city, and so he was compelled to re
trace his steps with q somewhat detected
and disappointed visage.
Miss Dennis's city home was a very
elegant and luxurious one, and on Thanks
giving evening its decorations and fur
nishings were to be seen to the best advan-
tage, by reason of the splendors of lights
and flowers which prevailed everywhere.
There was to be grand family dinner
given in special honor of ayoung gentle.
man, a somewhat distant relation, recent.
ly returned from prolonged stay abroad.
He had landed in America some weeks
back, but was now first come to this his
native city to pay his respects to the
family with due form and ceremony.
Violet was looking her very loveliest
tonight, in beautiful white silk with
natural flowers, and there was unques-
tlonably look of eager anticipation In
the eyes which she constantly turned to-
wards the door.
And there was really sufficient reason
for the heightened color that shone in
her cheeks to night, for this young cousin,
Arthur Darcy, had been long ago settled
upon, by all the friends of both parties,
as most suitable match for her. The
young people were naturally so congenial
and SO drawn to each other, that the
thi g would probably have come about
Of itself if their kind friends had not been
so obtrusive, and finally reused Miss Dem
Mss naughty spirit, so that when young
Darcy offered himself she said she had
no fancy for 5eing married to order, and
met HIM with fiat refusal. Stung by
the rejection, Darcy sailed for Europe
Immediately. and it was not until after
he had left that Violet had begun to feel
that, perhaps, she had made mistake.
She was not girl to repine, however,
and she was young and ardent and fond
Of society, and she had been very gay
and popular feature therein during these
years, but she had never had her heart
SO really touched by any one as it had
been by the cousin she had by her own
act, banished, and although she had not
been enough in love to pine for him, she
felt exhilarated at the thought of seeing
him again.
When the door opened at last and he
came in, looking very quiet and elegant
in his evening dress, with his smooth
shaven cheeks and brown mustache and
somewhat bronzed complexion. Violet
thought him q good deal changed, and
yet she told him she would have known
him anywhere.
Il was scarcely more than lad when
| went away" he said, ''and these are
the years in which man changes most.
You are changed, too, Violet, and for
the better-which you have not had the
grace to say to me. l should have known
you, of course; but with you it is diff
'feTent. There is an infalhble mark of
y
"Oh, you still remember the three little
moles, do you9'' said Violet. putting her
white hand up to her cheek and laying
her finger upon three tiny dark-brown
spots near the corner of her right eye.
They were no larger than freckles, and
as they heightened the effect of her
brilliant complexion, her admirers were
ant to dwell upon them as one of her
chief beauties.
"Of course I remember them" said
Mr.. Darcy, land as they are ineradicable,
you could never succeed in hiding your
identity from me, if you went to the ends
Of the earth"
There was rather a tender intonation
in his voice as he said this, and Violet
felt her hearta little stirred by the sound
5of these familiar tones. They were
standing apart tora moment, and no one
heard her as she said, playfully:
sTt was you who.went to the ends of
the earth-not I.
ut was you who sent me, he said
"and it is you who have brought me
back"
sNot consciously or voluntarily, /" said
Violet with a tolah of har old ho,,fa,,r